Antenna selector switch



De 10s 1940- R. R. TALLEY 2,224,277

ANTENNA SLECTOR SWITCH Filed Deo. 2. 1958 fda@ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1o, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTENNA SELECTOR SWITCH Application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 243,641

5 Claims.

This invention relates to switches of the type employed in electrical circuits. More particularly, this invention relates to switches suitable for the connection of radio transmitters with antenna 5 circuits.

At radio transmitting stations having a plurality of antennae and two radio transmitters which are to be connected to any two of the various antennae, transmission lines are often Wired from the various antennae to a point near the radio transmitters so that switching operations may be performed to interconnect the various devices as desired. These switching operations are usually performed whenever it is desired to connect or change the connection of one of the radio transmitters with some one or another antenna and for connecting or changing the connection of the other of the radio transmitters with one or another of the remaining antennae. Each such transmission line generally consists of two conductors which connect to the two terminals of each antenna circuit.

Previously, switches were employed which often required two operators to perform the switching operations. One operator connected one of the output terminals of one of the radio transmitters to one of the conductors of a particular transmission line and the other operator connected the other output terminal of the same transmitter to the other conductor of the desired transmission line. A similar series of steps was followed in connecting or changing the connection of the other of the radio transmitters with another of the remaining transmission lines. In these operations a non-transparent board separated the two operators so that neither could learn whether the other operator made his connections correctly until after the switching functions were completed.

It is clear that theswitching practices heretofore employed were subject to considerable chances of error. Moreover, if but one operator made the necessary connections, the time lost in traveling from one side of the switchboard to the other and thus establishing the desired connections was somewhat costly and the practice inefiicient. The prior switching arrangements also required the exercise of considerable care to avoid the connec- 50 tion ofthe output circuit of one of the radio transmitters with the output circuit of the other radio transmitter-a condition which, if it occurred, might result in the impairment or destruction of some of the expensive equipment.

The dfliculties and hazards of the prior switching apparatus are fully overcome by the apparatus of the present invention.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a simple, eiiicient and relatively inexpensive arrangement for switching a plurality of radio transmitters between a plurality of transmission lines each of which extends to an individual antenna circuit.

Another of the objects of this invention is to provide an arrangement for connecting any two of a plurality of transmission lines to two radio transmitters in such a way as to prevent the splitting of the two conductors of any one of the transmission lines between the two transmitters.

A still further object of this invention is to pre- 15 vent the simultaneous connection of both of the transmitters to the same antenna circuit.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter following when read in connection with the 20 accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents a perspective of the antenna selector switch of this invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view, partly in section, of the antenna selector switch; and Fig. 3 illustrates a plan view of a portion of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 shows the perspective of the selector switch of this invention as already stated. The switchboard I of insulating material such as Micalex is permanently mounted on and fastened to the metallic legs 2. The four legs 2 may be seated on the cabinet of a radio transmitter (not shown). All four legs are positioned above the radio cabinet, so that the various contactsof the switching arrangement will be remote from the hands of passers-by.

Seven pairs of insulators 3 to 9 are permanently mounted on the outer edge or periphery of the board I. Each of these insulators includes a 40 metal piece III at the top and a metal piece II at the bottom, the insulation itself, designated I2, separating the two metal pieces Il) and II. The metal pieces I0 of each pair of insulators are connected to a transmission pair or line which is connected to the two terminals of an antenna circuit (not shown). Thus, the seven pairs of insulators 3 to 9 are connected in orderly arrangement to seven transmission pairs or lines, each of which is connected to its individual antenna circuit.

The metal top I0 of each of the insulators l to 9 includes a pair of metallic jaws I3 made of resilient material, the Jaws being spaced a short distance from each other, the spacing being such as to receive conveniently a switch bladel andl establish good electrical contact therewith. The switch blades are designated i4 and they are permanentiy mounted in insulation side members i3. The insulation side members I are preferably made of a material such as Micalex and they are fixedly spaced from each other by a spacing block I3 which is also of a similar insulating material. The side members I5 are adjustably mounted on a rotary support block I1 as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The two switch blades I4 are respectively soldered to a pair of metallic wires I3 which are of a gauge suitable to conveniently carry the antenna currents. The other ends of the wires I3 are soldered to copper or brass metal pieces I3 which are permanently mounted on the rotatable support block I1, the latter block being also made of insulating material such as Micalex. The blades I4 as well as the insulation side members I3 and the spacing block I3 are rotatable as a unit through a small angle about an axis perpendicular to and in the plane of both of the side members l5, the rotation being utilized for moving the switch blades I4 into the receiving jaws i3 associated with the pair of insulatorsy such as 1, or for removing the blades I4 from the jaws I0, whichever may be found necessary.

A conductor 20 of large cross-section connects the metal piece I3 at the right with the metallic top 2| of the insulator 22. The insulator 22 is similar in construction to the other insulators of the pairs 3 to 3 already referred to. The base oi' insulator 22 is seated on a platform 23, the platform 23 being made of insulating material such as Micalex and permanently and immov-iy ably supported by the board I in any well known manner. The insulator 22 is but one of two insulators positioned in front of board I. the second insulator numbered 12 being positioned behind the insulator 22. The top 13 of the other insulator is connected to the metal piece I3 at the left by means of a conductor 24 shown in dotted lines. 'I'he conductors 23 and 24 are of course greatly insulated from each other and are also electrically connected to the output terminals of a radio transmitter (not shown).

An operating handle 2l is supported at hinge 26 which is attached to the insulating spacing block I3. The operator may grip the handle 25 whenever he wishes to remove the blades I4 from the jaws I3 of the insulators 1, for example, and thereafter insert the blades I4 into the receiving jaws of any other pair of insulators, for example, the jaws oi' insulators 3. In performing this operation, the side members I5 and the spacing block I6 will be rotated through a small angie about an axis in the plane of, and perpendicular to both of the side members I5, that is, away from the board I and toward the operator, then the elements I3 and I3 as well as the rotatable support block I1 will be rotated clockwise until the blades I4 are opposite the receiving jaws of insulators 3, and nally the elements I5 and I3 will be rotated toward the board I and away from the operator until the blades I4 are rmly gripped by the jaws I3 of insulators 3. Thus, the radio transmitter above referred to will be switched from the transmission line extending between insulators 1 and therefore,v

from the corresponding antenna circuit to the transmission line extending between insulators 3 and their individual antenna circuit.

Most of the apparatus already described is positioned in front oi the board l or at its periphery. However, it will be observed that a spacing block 34 separates two side members 33 which support two additional switch blades 34 and that the latter blades are electrically connected to conductors 33, respectively, the con-` ductors 33 extending to metal pieces 33 supported by the rotatable block 33, which is shown in dotted lines. `These parts Just referred to are all positioned on the opposite side of board I. and they are shown somewhat disproportionately in the drawing for the sake of clarity, thereby to simplify the understanding of the invention. The operating handle' 43 which is also located on the opposite side oi' board l is hingedly fixed to the spacing block 34, the switch blades 34 being now shown removed from electrical connection with any of the various pairs of peripheral insulators.

The spacing of either pair of the blades I4 or 34 is such as to allow their connection only to the two conductors of some one transmission line or pair. Neither of the pins 34 or 33 may be inserted into one of the various apertures 33 unless'both blades of either of the pairs I4 or 34 are properly centered over a pair of the switch points associated kwith the same aperture. It is thus impossible to connect one of these blades to one of the conductors of the line connected to one of the insulators, such as 1, and the other blade of the same pair to one of the conductors of a different line connected, for example, to the insulators 3. reason that it prevents the splitting of the connections from one oi.' the radio transmitters between two transmission lines.

With the construction shown, the conductive elements inserted between a' radio transmitter and the various transmission lines do not have to cross each other. Thus there will be a notable absence of cross-talk and singing effects. Also,

the distributed capacity between these conductive elements will always be maintained below a very small but tolerable value, and the distributed capacity due to the switching device itself will be practically negligible.

Fig. 2 shows a view partly in section, of certain important features of the antenna switch of this invention, the section being taken along a directionalline. |33 shown in Fig. 1, to the right of the insulators 3 of Fig. 1. One of the two insulators designated 3 is shown mounted at the periphery of the board I, the lower metal piece II of the insulator 3 being permanently fastened vto an angular member I3 which is clamped tothe board I by means of a bolt 3l. and nut I2, as

carries the receiving jaws I3 and 33 which are also shown in Fig. l. tacted by the blades I4 at the left of board I and the jaws 33 may be similarly contacted by the blades 34 at the right of board I, but as will be seen more clearly hereinafter, the blades I4 and 34 cannot contact the jaws I3 and 63 of any one pair of insulators, respectively, at the same time.

The blades I4 and 34 are shown aligned with the side members I5 and 33. respectively. and the spacing blocks I3 and 33 carry hinges 23 and 43 about which the operating handles 23 and 43 may be respectively revolved. The blades I4 and 34 are also conductively connected to the metallic pieces I3 and 33, the latter metal pieces bearing pivots 63 and 6I about which the side members I5 and 35 respectively may be rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise through some The jaws i3 may be con- Y This is important for the shown. The upper metal piece III of insulator 3 f small angle such as 15 or 20. For example, the 75 handle may be moved so as to rotate 'the side members I5 in a counter-clockwise direction to separate and electrically disconnect the blades I4 from the `iaws I3; or the handle 45 may. ifdesired, be manipulated so as to rotate the side members 35 in a counter-clockwise direction to bring the blades 34 into electrical contact with the jaws 53.

The spacing blocks I8 and 36 have tubular members 62 and 83 fastened thereto within which are pivotally mounted the ends of protector pins 64 and 65, respectively. The pins 84 and 65 are made of an insulating material such as hard rubber and are pointed at their forward terminals as shown. The pins 84 and 85 are rotatable through small angles, the rotations occurring about hinges 66 and 81 which traverse the member 62 and 63, respectively. 'I'he pin 64 is shown inserted in an aperture 88, within the board I, this aperture being slightly below and midway betweenv two insulators such as 8 (see Fig. 1)

When the pin 84 is inserted into a particular aperture as shown in Fig. 2, it is then impossible to insert the other pin 85 into the same aperture. The pointed terminal of pin 85 will allow the pin 65 to be deiiected away from the pin 84 and from the aperture 88. It is, therefore, impossible for the blades 34 to contact the receiving jaws 53 while the blades I4 are inserted within the respective jaws I3 of any one pair of peripheral insulators. Thus it becomes impossible to connect the transmission line extending to insulators 6, for example, to the pairs o1' conductors running to both radio transmitters at the same time.

The insulators 22 and 12 are both supported by the platform 23. 'I'he platform 13 similarly supports the insulators 14 and 15. The (two) blades I4 are electrically connected to the metal tops 2I and 16 by conductive elements including the wires 28 and 24, the metal pieces 2I and 16 being also connected to the two terminals of one of the radio transmitters (not shown). The blades 34 are likewise electrically connected to the metal pieces 18 and 18 by conductive elements including the wires 88 and 8I, respectively, the metal pieces 18 and 19 being similarly connected to the termini of the other radio transmitter (not shown).

The rotary support block I1 is pivoted about a bolt 83 which is held in position between two supports 84 and 85, the latter supports being fixedly held by the platform 23. A similar rotary support block 86 is pivoted about a bolt 81 which is also held in position between two supports 88 and 89 which are immovably affixed to the platform 13. The rotary block I1 is under the control of the operators handle 25 and may be rotated, together with the blades I4 and the mountings therefor, through more than 180, this rotation being utilized whenever the blades I4 are to be connected to the receiving jaws I3 of any selected pair of insulators3-9 (shown in Fig. 1). The block 86 is similarly rotatable through a large arc to connect the blades 34 with any two of the receiving jaws 53 of any one of the pairs of insulators 3 9. Thus, the blocks I1 and 86 are independently rotatable about the pivots 83 and 81, and the pairs of blades I4 and 34, together with their supports, are independently rotatable about pivots 60 and 6I, respectively, the axes of both sets of pivots for each pair of blades being 90 apart.

Fig. 3 shows one .form of construction suitable for rotating the switch blade vmechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Here the rotatable support block I1 is shown supported by the bolt or pivot 83, the bolt or pivot 83 having bearing surfaces in the supports 84 and 85. Although the drawing shows the supports 84 and 85 closely adjacent to the rotatable block I1, there are however small spaces therebetween to enable the block I1 to freely rotate about the pivot 83 whenever desired.

It will be observed that the conductors 28 and 24 are each fastened at one end to the metallic angle members 88 and 8|, respectively, which are bolted by the machine screw members 82 and 93 to the support block I1 in a well known manner. 'I'he other ends of conductors 28 and 24 are electrically connected by screws I8I and |82 to the tops 2| and 16 of the insulators 22 and 12, respectively (shown also in Figs. 1 and 2).

The angle members 88 are electrically connected to each other and to conductor 28 by the metallic screws 92. The spring washers 84 and bolt 85 and nut 96 are employed to hold the metal piece 88 (at the left) in position between the angle members 88 and at the same time the conductor 28 is connected electrically to the switch blade I4 (shown in Fig. 1) or rather to the wire I8 extending to the switch blade I4, the wire I 8 being soldered at 88 to the wire I8 above the side member I5 as will be apparent from the description of Fig. 1. Similarly the conductor 24 is electrically connected to the switch blade I4 (shown at Fig. 1) by means of the metal piece 88 (at the right) and the wire I8 to which it is soldered at 88.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 is located on one side of the board I (see Fig. 2). It will be obvious that a similar arrangement is set up on the opposite side of the board I.

The switch above described may be employed to connect either of two radio transmitters (not shown) with any desired transmission line and the other radio transmitter (not shown) with any one of the remaining transmission lines, but both transmitters are unable to be connected to the same transmission line at the same time.

The accompanying drawing shows schematically the construction employed for carrying out the general principles of the invention. Some of the unimportant details have been omitted so as to avoid confusion and make the invention more readily understandable.

While this invention has been shown and described in certain particular arrangements merely for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the general principles of this invention may be applied to other and widely varied organizations without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical switch comprising a board, a plurality of pairs of insulators mounted at the periphery of said board, two pairs of jaws of conductive material positioned at opposite sides of each insulator, two pairs of metallic blades, means for inserting both pairs of blades into the jaws of two different pairs of insulators so that two independent circuits may be completed at the same time, and means for preventing one of the pairs of blades from being inserted into the jaws associated with any other of said pairs of insulators when the latter jaws are in contact with a pair of blades, said means including two insulating members associated respectively with the two pairs of blades, said insulating members contacting each other before both blades can be inserted into a common pair of jaws.

2. An electrical switch comprising a board, two

pairs of blades, the two pairs of blades being positioned on opposite sides oi' said board, a plurality of pairs of conductive members mounted on said board, each pair of blades being conjtactable only' with one pair of conductive 'members at a time, and means for preventing one of the pairs of blades from contacting any individual pair of said conductive members already in contact with the other pair ofblades, said means including two insulating members associated respectively with the two pairs of blades, said insulating members contacting each other before said pairs of blades may be inserted into a common pair of conductive members.

3. An electrical switch comprising a board having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of pairs of terminals, one pair of said terminals being positioned on either side of the board adjacent to each aperture, two pairs of blades, two supports one for each pair of blades, two pins one carried by each support and insertable into any one of the apertures, means for moving either pair of blades into contact with a selected pair of terminals on one side of the board, the support carrying the latter pair oi blades having its pin inserted into the corresponding aperture to prevent the other pin from entering the same aperture, means for deilecting said other pin as it contacts the mst-mentioned pin when the latter pin is inserted in an aperture, whereby the other pair of blades will be unable to contact the terminals on the opposite side of the board associated with the same aperture while said pin remains inserted therein.

4. An electrical switch comprising two pairs of blades, two holders each supporting one of the pairs of blades, two pins each mounted on one of the holders so as to stand perpendicular to the associated holder, a board supporting the two holders on opposite sides thereof, the board having a plurality of apertures each suitable to receive only one of said pins at a time, a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in pairs, one pair of said terminals being positioned on the vamasar? board adjacent to each apertureand'so'spaced that 4when one of the pins is inserted into the aperture the twoblades associated with the same pl'nwill contact the two terminals corresponding to the same aperture, means for deecting onev for rotating either holder about an axis per pendicular to said board so that the blades car-A ried thereby may be caused to contact any desired pair of said terminals on the same side of said board, means for rotating either holderabout an axis parallel to the board to change the position oi' the associated blades with respect to all of the terminals.

5. An antenna selector switch comprising two pairs of blades, two holders one tor each pair of blades, a board upon the opposite sides ot which the two holders are mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the board, a plurality of apertures in said board, said apertures being equidistant from said axis, -a plurality of electrical terminals arranged in pairs, two pairs oi said terminals being adjacent to each aperture and being fastened to said board on opposite sides thereof, two pins each approximately of the cross-sectional area of said apertures and each carried by one of said holders perpendicular to said board, each holder being adjustable so that its two blades may contact any pair of terminals on the same side of the board and so that its associated pin may be inserted into the corresponding aperture, each holder being also adjustable about an axis parallel lto the board to allow the associated pin to be inserted into or removed from the corresponding aperture and the two blades to be connected with or disconnected from the two terminals associated with the same aperture on the same side of the board, means for deilecting one of said pins as it contacts the other pin when the latter pin is inserted in an aperture.

ROBERT ROARK TALLEY. 

